The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today delivered to all schools in Australia a ground-breaking multimedia educational CD ROM about the benefits of the Census and, in particular, the next Census on 7 August 2001, during Australia's Centenary of Federation.

The interactive CD ROM, A Tale of Two Worlds, packed with fun and games, was developed specially for schoolchildren to show them how the Census allows them to play a part in determining the future of Australia.

"The Census underpins our democratic process and especially in the year of the Centenary of Federation, we feel it is important that school students have a chance to learn - in a fun and creative way - about its value to all Australians," said Mr John Struik, in charge of the 2001 Census Programme at the ABS.

Mr Struik said A Tale of Two Worlds had been developed and delivered in advance of next year's Census so that educators could draw on it as resource when creating their teaching plans for next year.

It includes interactive games, created in consultation with teachers, students and national and State curricula. The CD ROM caters for a range of learning styles and levels of difficulty and is suitable for students from Grade 3 to Year 10. A Tale of Two Worlds also contains lesson plans and worksheets applying to society, environment, geography, history, civics and citizenship, drama and art, as well as English and mathematics.

"The interactive CD ROM creates a world where there is no Census and no planning; where schools are overcrowded and buses only go to places where no-one lives," Mr Struik said. The schoolchildren of that world are transported to our world and learn how the Census turns chaos into order."

The Census of Population and Housing is held every five years to accurately measure the number and key characteristics of people in Australia on census night and the dwellings they live in. It is the largest and one of the most important of many thousands of statistical collections undertaken by the ABS.

"The statistics produced from the Census are some of the most important in Australia. At their highest level, they are used for determining the Federal electoral representation of the States and Territories, and the distribution of government funds. The Census also provides vital information for both government and business and the community to assist their planning decisions.

Evaluation copies of A Tale of Two Worlds are available free to the media from ABS Media and Public Affairs, Leanne Dickinson, ph (02) 6252 7633 or e-mail leanne.dickinson@abs.gov.au. The education sector may contact Soo Kong for more information or copies, on (03) 9615 7360 or e-mail soo.kong@abs.gov.au.

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